DURHAM, N.C. - GeorgiaTech's players slapped a few high-fives with the fans who stuck around an emptying stadium. In one end zone, a banner was unfurled to read: "Tampa Bound."After clinching the ACC Coastal Division, they allowed themselves to savor the moment for, well, a moment.But these No. 7 Yellow Jackets hope some bigger things await - like their first outright ACC championship since 1990."Those guys have worked really hard, and a lot of people have doubted them along the way - especially early - and they've just been resilient and they kept playing," Tech coach Paul ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - While some in Atlanta are concerned about Matt Ryan's recent flurry of interceptions, he's nowhere close to matching the passing woes in Carolina.Through eight games, the Panthers have one touchdown catch by a wide receiver. Yes, Steve Smith is still on the roster."I am totally shocked," fellow receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "It's amazing. It's befuddling to me. I don't understand it."With the Falcons (5-3) and Panthers (3-5) bringing two of the league's elite running backs in Michael Turner and DeAngelo Williams into Sunday's NFC South contest, the ...

DURHAM, N.C. - Orwin Smith bobbled the kickoff, recovered just in time to find a seam and took off toward the goal line.Just like that, No. 7 GeorgiaTech was off to the races - and headed straight for the ACC title game.The Yellow Jackets clinched the Coastal Division and a spot in the league championship by routing Duke 49-10 on Saturday behind 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Jonathan Dwyer and another big day from Josh Nesbitt.Smith's 83-yard kickoff return sparked slow-starting GeorgiaTech (10-1, 7-1). Duke's Jordon Byas tracked him down from behind ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference is the Rolls-Royce of college football leagues, with the last three national champions, two teams in the running for this season's title and huge TV contracts.Boom times for sure. But troubled ones, too.The league has been dealing with seemingly endless questions stemming from a string of controversial officiating calls in close games involving highly ranked teams. That followed a preseason run-in with national media outlets over a new SEC policy.The in-season issues forced commissioner Mike Slive to make the unusual moves of publicly announcing the suspension of an officiating crew, increasing ...